The first of the nine-phased Lok Sabha elections begins tomorrow in six constituencies in two states. Five constituencies in Assam — Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat,Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur and Tripura (West) in Tripura — will go to polls on Monday.

Campaign has already ended in these constituencies and the candidates have mounted door-to-door contact with the electorate seeking their votes.

Unlike in the past, neither factions of the ULFA, pro or anti-talks, have issued diktats to the voters for boycott of the elections or made any statement against any political
party.

The Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, AIUDF, AGP, AAP, SUCI, CPI(M), AIFB and SP are contesting in the five seats in Tezpur, Koliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur in the Congress ruled state.

Among the 51 candidates are union ministers Ranee Narah and Paban Singh Ghatowar, former union minister and sitting MLA Bijoy Krishna Handique, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's son Gourav Gogoi and Bhupen Kumar Bora for the Congress. Congress rebel and Independent candidate Moni Kumar Subba is also contesting.

For the BJP are its state unit president Sorbananda Sonowal and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and for the AGP Arun Kumar Sarma, Pradip Hazarika and Joseph Toppo. A pro-talk ULFA commander Heera Sarania alias Naba Kumar Sarania, is contesting as an Independent with the support of several non-Bodo organisations there.

In the Left Front-ruled Tripura, the election will witness a multi-cornered contest among CPI(M), Congress, Trinamool Congress and the BJP. In the second and third phase on April 9 and 10, a total of 93 constituencies spread across 18 states will go to polls.